Hamlin Picks up Fifth Pocono Win

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Denny Hamlin won the Gander RV 400 from Pocono Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Hamlin held off his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Erik Jones and Martin Truex Jr. on the final restart, with fuel-mileage on everyone’s minds.

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The final round of pit stops caused most of the front-runners to stretch it on fuel, but two cautions late in the race allowed everyone to make it.  With everyone worried about fuel-mileage, Hamlin challenged Jones and Truex, hoping he could push them to run out of fuel.

Hamlin said he was worried that his team wouldn’t be able to make it to the end on fuel.

“I was really worried,” Hamlin said.  “We just did a great job with the car.  Once we lost track position there to [Truex] and [Jones], we weren’t able to pass them.”

Pocono staff put PJ1, a substance that adds grip to different grooves on the track, on the track before the race.  Hamlin said he was able to use the substance to his advantage to get to the lead.

“Thanks Pocono for putting in this PJ1, because I was able to use it there and get around those guys,” Hamlin said. 

Jones’ second-place finish was his third-consecutive top 3 finish.  Jones said he believes his team can break through and get a win before the playoffs.

“It’s a bummer, we’re close every week,” Jones said.  “It would sure be nice just to knock a win out, and when we’re just so close it stings a little bit more when you get that close.”

“We just have to break through and once we get one, I think we can knock a couple off.”

Unofficial results:

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Erik Jones

3. Martin Truex Jr.

4. William Byron

5. Kyle Larson

6. Kevin Harvick

7. Daniel Hemric

8. Brad Keselowski

9. Kyle Busch

10. Ryan Blaney

11. Clint Bowyer

12. Aric Almirola

13. Joey Logano

14. Ryan Newman

15. Jimmie Johnson

16. Chris Buescher

17. Matt DiBenedetto

18. Paul Menard

19. Austin Dillon

20. Alex Bowman

21. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

22. Bubba Wallace

23. Matt Tifft

24. Daniel Suarez

25. Michael McDowell

26. Corey LaJoie

27. Kurt Busch

28. Landon Cassill

29. Ty Dillon

30. Ross Chastain

31. Quin Houff

32. Reed Sorenson

33. BJ McLeod

34. Austin Theriault

35. Josh Bilicki

36. David Ragan

37. Ryan Preece

38. Chase Elliott

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Harvick Ends Drought, Wins at New Hampshire

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Kevin Harvick won the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon.

Harvick used pit strategy late in the race to pick up his first win of the season.  When a caution came out with 30 laps to go, Harvick stayed out while most of the field behind him pitted.  After retaining the lead on the restart, Harvick had to hold off Denny Hamlin, who was coming with two fresher tires.

Courtesy NASCAR

Harvick said he didn’t think the call would turn out to be the winning move.

“I didn’t think we had the best chance to win staying out, but Rodney and those guys made a great call,” Harvick said.  “Stayed out there and ran a lot of good laps.”

Harvick was able to hold Hamlin off for most of the final run, but the two made contact while racing around lapped traffic on the final lap.

Harvick said he knew Hamlin would use the bumper on the final lap.

“He tried to move me out of the way there and I knew that was coming as close as he was,” Harvick said.  “He dove to the outside of me and I just put a wheel on him.”

Hamlin used his bumper to try and move Harvick on the last lap, but he wasn’t able to complete the pass after the two made contact coming out of the final corner.

Hamlin said he didn’t want to completely ruin Harvick’s race by putting him in the wall.

“I wanted to just tap him there, but didn’t want to completely screw him,” Hamlin said.  “I at least wanted to give him a fair shot.”

“He saw that I had a big run and just turned right…I would do the same thing.”

Unofficial results:

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Denny Hamlin

3. Erik Jones

4. Ryan Blaney

5. Matt DiBenedetto

6. Martin Truex Jr.

7. Ryan Newman

8. Kyle Busch

9. Joey Logano

10. Brad Keselowski

11. Aric Almirola

12. William Byron

13. Paul Menard

14. Alex Bowman

15. Chris Buescher

16. Ty Dillon

17. Michael McDowell

18. Kurt Busch

19. Daniel Suarez

20. Clint Bowyer

21. Ryan Preece

22. Bubba Wallace

23. Corey LaJoie

24. Matt Tifft

25. Ross Chastain

26. Landon Cassill

27. Reed Sorenson

28. Andy Seuss

29. Chase Elliott

30. Jimmie Johnson

31. Quin Houff

32. Austin Dillon

33. Kyle Larson

34. David Ragan

35. Austin Theriault

36. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

37. Daniel Hemric

Busch Brothers Duel in Kentucky

Originally written for CLNS Media.

Kurt Busch won the Quaker State 400 from Kentucky Speedway on Saturday night,

Busch took the lead after the final restart of overtime, and he outran his younger brother Kyle to get to victory lane.

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Last weekend, Busch lost the lead during a lightning delay that ended the race at Daytona, and he said this race made up for the loss last weekend.

“When we got the yellow at the end, that put us back in it,” Busch said.  “Last week was whatever, because this week we got the trophy.”

Busch has had a strong car on 1.5 mile tracks throughout the season, but was winless coming into Saturday’s race. 

The victory was the first for Busch with the new team, and he said the victory was a first for many on the team.

“A lot of first wins with this group of guys,” Busch said.  “The way that we got together and had speed, we just weren’t competing…now we’re all winners.”

Kyle Busch said he was disappointing in finishing second in a close finish to his older brother.

“It was a thriller, just unfortunate that we were on the wrong end of the deal,” Busch said.  “It’s obviously cool to put on great races and great finishes.  Been a part of a lot of them…in fact none with my brother.”

Unofficial results:

1. Kurt Busch

2. Kyle Busch

3. Erik Jones

4. Kyle Larson

5. Denny Hamlin

6. Clint Bowyer

7. Joey Logano

8. Daniel Suarez

9. Ryan Newman

10. Chris Buescher

11. Paul Menard

12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

13. Ryan Blaney

14. Aric Almirola

15. Chase Elliott

16. Matt DiBenedetto

17. Alex Bowman

18. William Byron

19. Martin Truex Jr.

20. Brad Keselowski

21. Ryan Preece

22. Kevin Harvick

23. Bubba Wallace

24. Daniel Hemric

25. Michael McDowell

26. Ty Dillon

27. Matt Tifft

28. Corey LaJoie

29. David Ragan

30. Jimmie Johnson

31. Ross Chastain

32. Landon Cassill

33. Bayley Currey

34. Quin Houff

35. Austin Dillon

36. BJ McLoed

Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images